Steve Kornacki sizes up Argentina-Spain World Cup final
NBC’s data guru told TODAY that Spain enters the 2026 final as the favorite, with Argentina waiting and a 37-match unbeaten run in the mix.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Steve Kornacki brought his numbers board energy to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on TODAY, turning the spotlight on the tournament’s last matchup: Argentina against Spain.
In a segment published July 17, 2026, TODAY said NBC’s chief data analyst joined the show as the World Cup was nearing its close. The video runs 5 minutes and 41 seconds and focuses on the final pairing between Argentina and Spain.
According to TODAY, Kornacki assessed Spain as the favorite going into the match. The key figure behind that label: Spain was carrying a 37-game unbeaten streak into the final, TODAY reported.
The segment put Kornacki in familiar territory, using data and context to frame a high-stakes contest for viewers. TODAY identified him as NBC’s chief data analyst, a role that has made him a regular presence for viewers looking for quick reads on complicated races, brackets and matchups.
The World Cup final discussion also featured Truman, Martha Stewart’s grandson, who TODAY described as a World Cup superfan. He appeared on the show to talk about predictions that TODAY said had proved accurate.
TODAY’s World Cup coverage around the final also included a separate preview with Andrés Cantor and Tim Howard, listed by the show as a 4-minute, 40-second segment. Another recent TODAY segment looked at who would join Spain in the final, with England and Argentina identified in that matchup preview.
The final arrives at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which TODAY has covered across sports, entertainment and fan-focused segments. Recent videos listed by the show included Kornacki’s earlier breakdown of the quarterfinals, a look back from U.S. star Tim Ream, fan trivia tied to the tournament and a segment on Ava Max discussing the FIFA-featured song “Energy.”
For the final itself, TODAY’s main takeaway from Kornacki’s appearance was clear: Argentina faces Spain, and Spain’s unbeaten run is the number hanging over the match.
This story draws on original reporting from TODAY.com.